I bought a new Nikon D60 SLR digital camera. Ok well I don't even know what an SLR means.
So I looked it up, and found that digital single-lens reflex camera (digital SLR or DSLR) is a digital camera that uses an automatic mirror system and pentaprism or pentamirror to direct light from the lens through the viewfinder eyepiece.
The basic operation of a DSLR is as follows: for viewing purposes, the mirror reflects the light coming through the attached lens upwards at an approximately 90 degree angle. It is then reflected by the pentaprism to the photographer's eye. During exposure (when the photograph is taken), the mirror swings upward, and a shutter opens, allowing the lens to project light onto the image sensor. found this at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_single_lens_reflex_cameras
Ok so what makes this different from a regular digital camera? Still lost even with the definition. Help!
I still don't know how to use it very well. There are so many buttons that you change to make the photo come out better.
But now I want all the extras that go with it. It came with a lens 15-55 now I want the one that is 55-200 and I want a tripod. Wow this can get expensive. But it sure does take some nice photos. I am working on an article showing you how my old camera and this one measures up. I am taking photos of the same shot with both cameras. Stay tunned for more! 
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Comments: 122
Maybe you should investigate taking a photography class.
http://www.scrapjazz.com/topics/Photography/Digital_Photography/411.php
Also if you are looking for lenses, I'd ask a camera guru what Nikon lenses go with it, and then check out ebay. Not sure, but I think all nikon lenses are interchangable, at least the camera my brother has, has that ability.
Another benefit would be to take a photography class at a local college. You can learn so much about your camera, and even learn how to develop your own photos in some cases.
For now, I am happy with my Nikon Coolpix L18.
By the way, some years ago when I bought my wife a nice movie camera I did some searching on the Internet. I ended buying it from a place called 'Abe's of Maine' (I hope?) at about 400 dollars (yeah, $400) less than any place in town. They had all kinds of camera stuff, and I haven't bought anything else since, but you might want to price lenses etc. there...?
Have fun.
The depth of field is the length of the range within which everything appears with the sharpest focus. There is a minimum and maximum distance from the lens that bound this range.
The lens for an SLR camera should have markings to indicate how far away the middle of the depth of field is - rotating the lens changes it. So, if you know how far away the subject will be, before framing the picture, that setting could be preset and then visually verified through the viewfinder before tripping the shutter.
The f-stop changes the size of the lens opening (aperture).
A higher number means a smaller opening and a longer depth of field, so more of the scene is in focus. A lower number narrows the depth of field, making accurate focusing more critical, with the background and foreground more out of focus.
A smaller aperture (higher f-stop number) requires the lens to be open longer, which could result in motion blurring - due to something moving quickly. A larger aperture (lower f-stop number) reduces the amount of time that the shutter needs to be open and facilitates "freezing" something that's moving, so that it appears to be motionless.
The other digital cameras are referred to as point and shoot.
You have a view screen you use while you take a picture, typically a single built-in lens with (typically) shorter length (less optical zoom) and only the pre-set modes to help adjust for lighting, contrast, motion - scenery - macro - micro - and oh so many other settings. These can also be carried somewhat more easily - but you tend to have more contraints...
As time goes on the lines between some of those constraints will blur...
The one that currently cannot be blurred is the ability to zoom and adapt a close-up for a specific depth of focus.
Definitely worth getting a class on SLR photography
I don't take it seriously.
While there are some non-SLRs that have interchangeable lenses, these are moderately rare (old Leicas come to mind). The most common system that lets you change lenses is the SLR.
You might be interested in Scott Kelby's "The Digital Photography Book" and vol 2 of the same name: he uses Nikons and Canons and gives detailed, specific examples using these brands.
I keep reading my manual over and over, but can't seem to retain certain things. Luckily, I'm now shooting in RAW mode all the time, so I have a lot of latitude to fix my exposures.
Enjoy!
I bought back in May a D300, so imagine the difference in price, but I got 2 VR lenses with it, 18 to 55 and 55 to 200, ok I had the tripod but it came with an el cheapo ( I bought a camera packacge off ebay), but you are right, immediately I wanted a zoom lens, which I just got and now have a 170 to 500, oh yeah, and I've been taking some awesome and not so awesome images with it, but now I want a bigger flash card a better flash, a better tripod, you name it I want it and yes it does add up, I saw a 12 to 24 macro lens, and the MSRP of that lens alone was well over 1000, my 170 to 500 I got for about half the price, because I got it off Ebay, someone who upgraded, so I got it for about half the price.....
hang in there, keep shooting, I've uploaded a bunch of photos that I've taken with my D300,
But photography is not only addicting its expensive.
Mooch
Most of all have FUN! There are settings on the camera that should be reminicent of a point and shoot style camera, (i.e. Action, Night time, Macro, Sunset, etc) and if all else fails, put it in Auto mode (A) and it should be great for anything you might need it for until you get used to changing your settings manually! :)